[Passage of Russian Troops through Roumania.] sons, will be calculated on the basis of the monetary unity, Roumanian or French. These can be made either in money, or "bons," in due form emitted by the Commander of the Imperial army, and payable by the chest of said army, within two months at the outside. The form of these bills, their terms, mode, and place of payment, and control will be regulated and brought to the knowledge of the public, after an understanding between the Russian Commander-in-Chief and the Roumanian Commissary-General. ART. XXIV. The Roumanian Government accords to the Russian Government for the term whilst the Imperial troops are in Roumania, and on this side of the Danube, the free importation into its territory, without duties, and the free transit of all articles and objects for the provisioning, and munition and war material, destined for the use of the Imperial army and even those things the entry of which is prohibited by Roumanian regulations. ART. XXV. Should desertion take place of Russian troops during the passage through Roumania, the Roumanian authorities will assist to arrest the culprits, according to indications to be given by the Russian military authorities. Deserters arrested will be given over into the hands of the Russian Military Commanders nearest to the spot where the arrestations are made. ART. XXVI. Any cases of differences which may occur on the occasion of the passage of Russian troops through Roumania, and which is not provided for by this Convention, shall be regulated by common accord by the Commissioners named ad hoc by the Chief Commander of the Russian forces and the Roumanian Commissioner-General. In faith of which, the respective Plenipotentiaries have put their signatures and seals of their arms to this Supplementary Convention. 4th Made in duplicate in Bucharest, the of April, in the 16th of Grace, 1877. BARON D. STUART, year Diplomatic Agent and Consul-General of Russia in Roumania. M. COGALNICEANO, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Roumania. [War with Turkey.] No. 487.-RUSSIAN CIRCULAR, announcing that Orders had been given to the Russian Armies to cross the Frontiers of Turkey; and explaining the Causes of War. St. Petersburgh, 7th April, 1877. (Translation as laid before Parliament.) 7th 19th Prince Gortchakow to Count Schouvaloff, April, 1877.* (Circular.) M. l'Ambassadeur, THE Imperial Cabinet has exhausted, since the commencement of the Eastern crisis, all the means in its power to bring about, with the concurrence of the Great Powers of Europe, a lasting pacification of Turkey. All the propositions successively made to the Porte in consequence of the understanding established between the Cabinets have met with an invincible resistance on its part. 19th 31st The Protocol signed in London on the March (No. 483) of this year was the last expression of the collective will of Europe. The Imperial Cabinet had suggested it as a supreme effort of conciliation. It had made known, by the declaration bearing the same date and accompanying the Protocol, the conditions which, if loyally accepted and performed by the Ottoman Government, might bring about the re-establishment and consolidation of peace. The Porte has just answered by a fresh refusal (No. 484). This eventuality had not been contemplated by the Protocol of London. While it formulated the views and decisions of Europe, that document had confined itself to stipulating that in case the Great Powers were deceived in their hope of seeing the Porte apply energetically the measures destined to afford to the condition of the Christian populations the improvement unanimously called for as indispensable to the tranquillity of Europe, they reserved to themselves to consider in common as to the means which they might deem best fitted to secure the wellbeing of those populations and the interests of the general peace. *Communicated to the Earl of Derby by Count Schouvaloff, 24th April, 1877. [War with Turkey.] Thus the Cabinets had foreseen the case of the Porte not fulfilling the promises it might have made, but not that of its rejecting the demands of Europe. At the same time the Declaration made by Lord Derby at the time of signing the Protocol stated that as the Government of Her Britannic Majesty had consented to the signature of that act only in view of the interests of the general peace, it was to be understood beforehand that, in the event of the proposed object not being attained, namely, reciprocal disarmament and peace between Russia and Turkey, the Protocol should be regarded as null and void. The refusal of the Porte and the reasons on which it is founded, leave no hope of deference on its part to the wishes and counsels of Europe, and no guarantee for the application of the reforms suggested for the improvement of the condition of the Christian populations. They render impossible peace with Montenegro, and the performance of the conditions which might bring about disarmament and pacification. In these circumstances, every chance is closed for efforts of conciliation. There remains no alternative but to allow the state of things to continue which the Powers have declared incompatible with their interests and those of Europe in general, or else to seek to obtain by coercion what the unanimous efforts of the Cabinets have not succeeded in obtaining from the Porte by persuasion. Our august master has resolved to undertake this work, which His Majesty had invited the Great Powers to pursue in common with him. He has given his armies the order to cross the frontiers of Turkey (Nos. 492, 493).* You will make known this resolution to the Government to which you are accredited. In assuming this task, our august master fulfils a duty imposed upon him by the interests of Russia, whose peaceful development is hindered by the permanent disturbances of the East. His Imperial Majesty has the conviction that he responds at the same time to the sentiments and interests of Europe. Accept, &c. GORTCHAKOW. * Diplomatic Relations were suspended, 23rd April (No. 490); and War was declared by Russia against Turkey, 24th April, 1877 (No. 493). [Rupture of Diplomatic Relations with Turkey.] No. 488.-NOTE presented by the Russian Chargé d'Affaires (M. Nélidoff) to the Porte, breaking off Diplomatic Relations. Constantinople, April 1877. 11th 23rd (Translation as laid before Parliament.) 19th THE Russian Imperial Cabinet has exhausted every measure of conciliation with a view to re-establish a lasting peace in the East, by means of an understanding with the Great Powers and the Porte. The way in which the Ottoman Government has rejected all the proposals successively made, and its refusal of the Protocol signed at London the 1st of March (No. 483), as well as of the declaration by which that document was accompanied, leave no place for further negotiations, nor any hope for an agreement based on the readiness of the Porte to offer the guarantees demanded by Europe in the interests of the general peace. The Emperor, my angust master, has consequently instructed me to break off diplomatic relations and to leave Constantinople with the staff of the Embassy and the Russian Consuls residing in Turkey. I am ordered by His Imperial Majesty to call the Porte's attention at the same time to the grave responsibility which would rest on her if the safety not only of our countrymen, but also of any of the Christian subjects of the Sultan or foreigners, were compromised in any part soever of the Ottoman Empire. * Communicated to the Earl of Derby by Musurus Pasha, 28th April, 1877. [Rupture of Diplomatic Relations with Russia.] No. 489.—DESPATCH from Safvet Pasha to Musurus Pasha, announcing the Rupture of Diplomatic Relations with Russia. Constantinople, 23rd April, 1877.* (Translation as laid before Parliament.) (Telegraphic.) THE Russian Chargé d'Affaires has addressed to me a note this day (No. 488) to inform me that he has been ordered by his Government to break off diplomatic relations with the Sublime Porte, to leave Constantinople with the members of the Embassy, and to withdraw the Russian Consuls stationed in Turkey. M. Nelidow has already left with the "personnel" of the Embassy. The Sublime Porte has done its utmost to avoid such an extremity; but, in face of the initiative assumed by Russia, the Government of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan has been obliged on its side to order the Ottoman Embassy at St. Petersburgh, and all its Consuls in Russia, to return to Constantinople. * Communicated to the Earl of Derby by Musurus Pasha, 24th April, 1877. |